MLB News

Maddon: Steal comes at right place, wrong time

By
David AdlerMLB.com

ST. PETERSBURG -- In the bottom of the eighth inning of Friday night's game, pinch-runner Sean Rodriguez was thrown out trying to advance to second on a pitch in the dirt. Astros catcher Jason Castro blocked the ball and kept it in front of him, which allowed him to throw out Rodriguez fairly easily.

Rodriguez had just entered the game, which the Rays were trailing, 2-0, as a pinch-runner for Jose Molina, who had led off the inning with a single.

ST. PETERSBURG -- In the bottom of the eighth inning of Friday night's game, pinch-runner Sean Rodriguez was thrown out trying to advance to second on a pitch in the dirt. Astros catcher Jason Castro blocked the ball and kept it in front of him, which allowed him to throw out Rodriguez fairly easily.

Rodriguez had just entered the game, which the Rays were trailing, 2-0, as a pinch-runner for Jose Molina, who had led off the inning with a single.

Tampa Bay went on to lose, 3-1, and manager Joe Maddon said after the game that he was not happy with the baserunning play. In that situation, he said, if a runner decides to go, he simply has to be safe.

On Saturday afternoon, Maddon said he had discussed the mistake with Rodriguez.

Maddon reiterated what he had said Friday -- that the play was too big of a risk to take late in a close game.

"Again, it comes down to the point that you can't make that mistake then -- because at other points in the game, I want them to be aggressive," Maddon said. "You know what, under normal circumstances I am not upset with that at all, but at that part of the game, under those circumstances, it becomes a different question."